The Gurnee Days Committee is proud to announce longtime Gurnee resident, Martha Welton-Schmidt, as the 2025 Gurnee Days Honoree.

Martha Welton-Schmidt comes from a family that is deeply rooted in the community of Gurnee and has a legacy of significant community service.  Growing up she observed the way that her extended family modeled serving and helping others.  Her grandfather, Ray B. Dixon, was an original board member who organized and built Warren Township High School, among other important contributions.  Her parents, Art and Mary Welton, were Gurnee Days Honorees in 1981 because of their long-standing community service.  Other family members recognized at Gurnee Days include: her uncle LaVerne Dixon, brother Dick Welton, and brother-in-law Jim Hayner.  The family tradition of service to others was well ingrained in Martha.  When asked to serve as this year’s honoree, she responded: “I am so honored and humbled to be considered for this honor. Thank you.”

Martha is the fifth of eight Welton children, and growing up was surrounded by numerous cousins, Aunts, and Uncles as well.  She was introduced to working hard early in life by babysitting and then later joined her older siblings working at the family business, Welton’s Food Market.  This work taught her the value of helping others and being kind to one another.  This preparation helped her as she began a twenty-year career at the Community Trust Credit Union.  One would often find a line at her station because people wanted to be served by Martha, especially seniors.

She met her husband Marvin Schmidt while “Scooping the Loop” in Waukegan, and they were married in 1967.  Shortly afterwards, he was drafted and sent to Vietnam.  He was seriously injured while there, and they have coped with those injuries since that time.  They were blessed with two children, Marnie and Buddy, as well as four grandchildren: Audrey, Janey, Matthew and Baylor.  While raising the children, Martha was involved in Cub Scouts, Brownies, band parent, and choral parent activities.  Today, she is an active member of the Gurnee Community Church, continuing the legacy of her mother, Mary.  As a wedding hostess, she helped organize over 150 weddings. She currently helps with the annual Thanksgiving dinner for sailors from Great Lakes, senior luncheons, funeral meals, and many other behind-the-scenes activities.  Ask her family, friends, and neighbors, and they will tell you that Martha serves in many quiet and humble ways.